Fulham remain unbeaten in the League after earning another valuable point against Everton at the Cottage. The result moved Mark Hughes’ side to sixth place in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday night.

87' Substitution

Mark Hughes felt both teams' defences excelled on Saturday afternoon as Fulham and Everton played out a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage.

The result moved Fulham into the top six with Hughes’ side retaining their impressive unbeaten record in the Barclays Premier League after six games.

The main talking point before the game was who would lead Fulham’s attack in light of recent injuries. With Mousa Dembele joining Bobby Zamora on the sidelines this week, Mark Hughes opted for the attacking duo of Zoltan Gera and Clint Dempsey to tackle Everton’s defence. Diomansy Kamara was named amongst Fulham’s substitutes after returning from injury.

Everton, having lost four of their first five League matches this season, were desperate for a morale boosting result on Saturday. The quality of David Moyes’ team certainly belies their current league position. With the likes of Jagielka, Cahill, Arteta and Yakubu in their starting eleven, Everton are capable of matching any team in the League on their day.

During the opening stages of the Saturday’s contest Arteta was pulling the strings for Everton in central midfield and the visitors had the upper hand in terms of possession. Baines tested Schwarzer early on with two crosses from the left flank under the sun but it was Simon Davies who fired off the first serious attempt on goal, with a drive from 30 yards that dipped over Howard’s cross bar.

The action really kicked-off after eight minutes when Clint Dempsey’s penalty appeal was turned down by Referee Howard Webb. Seconds later Pienaar forced a clean save from Schwarzer as the game threatened to burst into life.

Fulham were guilty of losing possession too frequently in their half as the game approached the twenty minute mark. Everton looked to make progress by attacking from the flanks, but Kelly and Salcido provided firm resistance.

Mark Hughes was forced to make his first change of the match just before the half hour mark. Having picked up an injury in a brave challenge minutes earlier, Stephen Kelly made way for Chris Baird at right back. Kelly has earned his place as Hughes’ first choice right-back in recent weeks so his early exit was a disappointment for the Republic of Ireland international.

Saturday’s game required a moment of magic to break the deadlock and Zoltan Gera almost provided just that after 34 minutes. Fulham were finding it hard to maintain possession in Everton’s half but with his back to goal, 30 yards out, Gera turned his man and fired a low shot just wide of Howard’s far post.

Five minutes before the break Fulham produced the best move of the game that almost earned Hughes’ side a timely lead. Salcido’s adventurous spirit down the left flank saw the Mexican deliver a superb in-swinging cross to Etuhu, bursting into the area. Etuhu’s header from 12 yards was on target but Howard’s positioning was faultless to catch the ball cleanly.

Cahill had the last word of the half; when he launched a thunderous right footed drive from 30 yards that forced Schwarzer into a fine fingertip save. It remained level at the break.

There was greater purpose to Fulham’s play at the start of the second half with Everton on the back foot as Hughes’ side launched a succession of attacks. The visitors were allowed far less time on the ball as Fulham’s players pressed hard. Fulham were going for the win as the attacking ingenuity of Davies, Gera and Duff came to the fore.

Just nine minutes into the second half Mark Hughes made his second change of the match, replacing Zoltan Gera with Eddie Johnson. Johnson put in a fine shift on Saturday and seems to be growing in confidence under Mark Hughes this season. It was all Fulham as the hour mark approached with Hughes’ side camped in Everton’s half, dominating possession and looking likely to break the deadlock.

Right on the hour mark Fulham produced two glorious chances to take the lead. First Howard denied Dempsey with a fine parry following the American’s low drive from the right hand side of the area. Howard’s save was turned back across the six yard line but Fulham lacked a clinical finish in front of goal as the ball agonisingly ran across the six yard line.

David Moyes made his first change of the match after 62 minutes, replacing Cahill with Osman. The changed marked a swing in the balance of play, with Everton entering a period of sustained pressure. Osman and Arteta both went close before Fulham regained their grip on the game.

Clint Dempsey was working tirelessly up front for Fulham and was almost rewarded for his desire and endeavour after 69 minutes when his right footed drive from 25 yards whistled just wide of Howard’s goal.

Twenty minutes from time Mark Hughes introduced Diomansy Kamara to the action. Simon Davies made way for the Senegalese international with Dempsey moving back to left midfield. Despite Fulham dominating in terms of opportunities on goal, Everton also possessed the talent in their ranks to make it count, with Yakubu going close after 77 minutes with a low drive across Schwarzer’s goal.

The game really livened up in the final ten minutes with Eddie Johnson’s penalty appeal preceding a booking for Carlos Salcido following an over exuberant challenge by the Mexican international down Fulham’s left flank.

Nine minutes from time Salcido produced another peach of a cross into Everton’s box for Kamara, who Distin sent tumbling to the ground following a dual with the striker in the area. Referee Howard Webb waved play-on but on closer inspection Fulham certainly had a worthy shout for a penalty.

Fulham were taking the initiative in the closing stages, desperate to take all three points. Damien Duff’s desire earned him a booking for a late challenge in Everton’s half four minutes from time as David Moyes replaced right back Coleman with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

Moments after the Fourth Official had indicated three minutes added time Yakubu smashed a drive from the edge of the area just wide of Schwarzer’s far post. It was a heart-stopping moment for the home fans. Schwarzer needed to be at his very best just 60 seconds later as he pulled off another superb save to deny Yakubu a late winner at the Cottage.

Fulham produced a fine second half performance on Saturday but on the balance of play both teams deserved a point from the match. Mark Hughes and his Team will now look to build on their impressive current standing when they cross London next weekend to challenge West Ham at Upton Park.